LILY SANDERS
 LILY SANDERS
Where do you live (City, State, or Country)?
Babylon Village, Long Island, New York Your script stood out among hundreds of others. What was the inspiration for your story and why did you write a script instead of a short story or a novel? Just prior to my first book launch (Truth To Triumph) in 2017, I knew I didn’t want to stop writing. There was a fire inside that begged me to keep going. Setting my feet onto the next journey, I arranged a trip to El Salvador to research the topic of human trafficking. During that intense time of interviewing a former FBI agent, a Dept of Justice agent, and those who were at executive levels of the National Civil Police- I stumbled upon organ trafficking, and the criminal gangs that dominate life in El Salvador. When I was told that young children had currently gone missing, and found with their insides removed, I leaned in to learn more! Those findings and more, became the birth of my first script. After nine years of research, my inspiration grew even stronger to write a script for a TV series. This was no short story. In fact, I would argue that the co-opting organ trade into the meta-narrative of human trafficking resists the grander picture of underground agency, systems, and corrupt government. How long did it take you to write your script...and what is your writing process? Do you outline...use index cards...white board...or just start with FADE IN? I title it first. It’s just a feeling I get. Of course, the research took years. Once I set my goal to start and calendared my completion date I got to work! That meant blocking out all of my time, sitting at my laptop, looking at previous notes, creating characters in my head, staring into reflective space, and then…typing. First, I created an entire story in summary form, from beginning to end. Then I fleshed it out. Yep…from FADE IN! And yes, I do use index cards, but only to show my completion of each ACT. What is your ultimate ambition as a writer? My highest aspiration as a writer is to create compelling narratives for TV Series and Films. Projects that pique curiosity and mystery, bring fresh insights, encourage empathy and compassion-in-action, and shine a light on the positive ripple effects of choosing love. Which film or television writers inspire you? Why? Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men), Nicholas Kazan (At Close Range), Sean Penn (Into the Wild), and Shonda Rhimes (Scandal). I just love their work...particularly the three scripts I just mentioned. What’s your all-time favorite movie or television show? The Blacklist What advice do you have for writers hoping to win a contest or place as a finalist as you have? I advise competitors to keep writing, stay humble, be open to improvement, and write with passion. Everything else will fall into place. What else are you working on that the world needs to know about? (be sure to include any links you want the world to check out) I currently have 2 shorts that I recently completed. One of those shorts will be my inspiration for my first feature! I’d love to hear from you! Be encouraged to reach out via my website or socials. My website: https://lilysanders.live/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDY9uZBAPUEpcqly4aynsJA?view_as=subscriber X: https://x.com/lilysanders11 IG: https://www.instagram.com/lily_sanders_author/ My first book https://lilysanders.live/truth-to-triumph/ |
